Nic’s blog
I write about building businesses, failing and building a life, not a legacy.
Your .com death and more on Flamebait
We have just published the latest episode of Flamebait, in which Vince and I discuss some of the following burning topics:* The Facebook domain squat* Social networking for dead people* What happens to bloggers when they die or, rather, what should happen* Linkbait and general misinformation* Who is Phil Lynnot and why can I never remember the name of the band?Subscribe to the Flamebait feed. Visit the MG podcast page.
Competitive and cooperative success
There is a massive difference in the world we live in today and the world others experienced in the past. There is a massive difference between the emerging market of Africa and that of Asia in the past.The difference of the latter is simple and was explained to me in a presentation today; Asia has a competitive market while here we are still trying to be "brother" and "sisters". I firmly agree with this thought and it applies to almost everything in life.A few quick examples that I can think of:Sport: Imagine if the worst rugby players were put in the same team as the best rugby players (your team) and you were asked to win a tournament. You wouldn't want to compete at your best because you would know that it wouldn't be fair and equal on the field.School: If you were in a mathematics class that consisted of every level of mathematics student and you were the brightest, you would be bored. You would not be driven to beat the guy next to you because he would not be able to achieve your marks on his best day. No push.Now to business and the current state of affairs. Imagine if management was filled with incompetant people. You, working under management (the idiots) would not be driven to compete, you would not be pushed to do better, your spark would be trampled by ignorance. Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Investec, RMB, you name them (the top ones) and they all hire the best. The best managers, the best ganitors, the best secretaries, the best of everything.It is in an environment such as the ones above where skills thrive, where ambition, competancy and responsibility are rewarded. This is where good people become great people and great people become better.I think that cooperative success is very, very viable in some circumstances. I work in a room filled with 60 people cooperating together toward a single goal; the weekly publication. This could not be done unless everyone knew thier place and was working cooperatively together. These people are the best at what they do, no doubt, and they are working together, not apart, to succeed.Competitive success works wonders too and is present in the entrepreneurial world as well as the world of the Gates' and Jobs' of the world. This competitive edge, the need to beat someone else has made these two men the best in the world at what they do.It is very much a matter of personal context where an individual decides what role they want to take and what role they are willing to accept. I was a cutthroat entrepreneur willing to do everything myself to get ahead. Now I still have those traits but have chosen to dull them down and use others to make my current situation work the best it can for me.Cooperative, competitive or both?
How to brand yourself online
Here are some points about branding online and how one can do it quickly, easily and almost for free:1. Get a dotcom or dotcoza, such as this one (nicharalambous.com). Some others, daveduarte, mikestopforth, vincentmaher, matthewbuckland, justinhartman.2. Get Linkedin3. Get on to FaceBook4. Find people with established personal brands and latch on to them like a cub to its mother.5. This is the big one, Start your own company (doesn't matter what that company does, just start it).I might be taking the piss, I might be serious, it depends on your outlook, these things have at some point or another helped me and others I know. However some of these points have also been the downfall for some I know. So take caution when moving through the perils of personal branding. It is a cutthroat industry filled with many people. Some who are actually better than you.
Big Media, Little Entrepreneur
Is there a place for small-time entrepreneurs in big media corporations? Yes. For sure. If you are thinking otherwise you are ignorant and missing out big time.My recent move in to a big media corporation was somewhat daunting in the beginning, but has so far proven to be an innovative and experimental move. Yes there are boundaries and yes there is politics but everyone has to deal with that at some point.I am currently in the process of working on a new website for FM Campus. The resources at my disposal are great and the site should be amazing once it is completed (I hope!). This is proving to be an extremely interesting process. Trying to bridge the gap between big media and social networking, viral marketing and web 2.0 concepts. Very fun. Then there is also the business strategy and strategic planning side of the magazine that is also under my control. I also have to ensure that we produce a weekly magazine publication in print! All very exciting but somewhat pressurising, I do like this kind of pressure though.In other words what I am trying to say is that not all corporates or big media organisations are filled with boring plans, no strategies and ancient dilapidated ideas of how things should work. It is not only entrepreneurs who break ground, push the envelope and achieve greatness. There are arguments and examples that support both great entrepreneurs and great established organisations/large corporates (MG, The Times, Mike Stopforth, Afrigator, Dave Duarte, Henk Kleynhans, Twac and many many many many more). So I wont be arguing the pros and cons of either, neither or both.I am trying to say that there is opportunity wherever you are and wherever you want to be. If you want to be an entrepreneur in a big media house then you can and you will meet people along the way who will help you to do this.
People becoming bloggers becoming products
Meet spongebobsqaureNic
I have started to do it recently as have many more bloggers in SA. I have seen people become bloggers and bloggers become products. The latest of which is Tyler. Tyler has apparently not only branded himself, but is currently RE-branding himself.Now I have no real problem with this in essence from a person like Tyler because I understand what he is saying. People are brands, companies don't buy in to a product any more, companies and clients all buy in to people. That means that you are up for sale, you are on the pricing boards every time you open your mouth. This is undeniably true.My question is this: What have we become when we are selling ourselves openly, blatantly and shamelessly? People have always sold themselves as part of the package but had the tact to hide it. Now I openly say that I am worthy of x or y amount and my time is worth R350, R450 or more per hour. In days gone by you were the product up for sale but the client was not aware of this.Blogs have, in recent times, played a great part in creating this forwardness if you will. People feel obligated to talk to their community and tell them what is going on, even if that is a trade secret (The secret being YOU). I personally like to keep my trade secrets to myself.I am interested to see how the bloggers, new media evangelists and entrepreneurs feel about this topic.
Avril Lavigne is an idiot
I am dissapointed in Ms Avril. She's an absolute idiot. She is childish and a sell-out.I was watching MTV right now and there is a special on called "Making the Album". It is Avril Lavigne's new album being featured. The most intelligent thing that I have heard Avril say is nothing. Her choice to never shut up is insufferable. She talks about how hammered she was when she wrote this song, how that chorus took her 2 minutes to write. I think I heard her mention the word "drunk" 5 times in one sentence. She then proceeded to write a song about her drink of choice, Limoncello.People might get bleak with Britney and Christina about their new images and content on their albums, but at least they show some sort of progression. Avril is still talking about parties, cheerleaders and mindless crap. Do me a favour and grow up.So sad when someone stagnates and is unashamedly proud of it. At least Britney is screwed up in a big people kind of way, drugs, boose, "real" problems, hahaha. Avril is still stuck in teenage issues in spite of her marriage and success.
Princess Diana gets an audience of over 500 million people
I am watching the Princess Diana tribute concert on a dedicated channel (37) in Dstv... This concert is broadcasting to over 140 countries and to over 500 million people. Princes Di's sons organised the concert and are in the audience with their friends and girlfriends (I think). Lilly Alan just finished playing and the line-up to come looks spot on!
Facebooks Gifts Make Me Puke
Everyday I look at my FaceBook (FB) profile and I notice another annoying little gift on the right hand side of the screen. Today's gift is an 8-bit Warrior.I ask you, an 8-bit Warrior? Who the hell wants to blow $1 on an 8-bit Warrior?Thing is, there are 100 000 of them available, limited time only, get yours now before they run out. 100 000 freakin' 8-bit Warriors! WHAT A LOAD OF HOGWASH.You people are idiots, you facebook freaks who spend $1 on a gift that someone is designing off the top of their head. You are paying for absolutely nothing, zip, nada, zero, squat.FB is coining it through these little gifts, sometime there are 1 000 000 little gifts available on the day if its a cup-cake, a burger or something even cuter.It makes me sick. To the stomach. I think I just threw up a bit in my mouth.
Skinstad and White Robbed
How incredible is that? Bob and Jake walk in to the Australian airport and realise that the camera, laptop and allegedly their "playbook" were stolen.Most people would be talking about Bob being captain (KAK IDEA) or Jake selecting a second string team (You brilliant, brilliant man you). But I am more interested in them being robbed and the media hounding them upon arrival.Anyhoot, whatever, we sent a second string team, who cares, I think it's a shit idea to have the super 14, tri-nations and world cup in one year anyways. Go Jake.P.S: Bye bye Mr Smit and Mr Matfield we'll see you in the green and gold.
It's Cold... In Fact, It's Freezing
I love snow. I crave snow ever since I went to Vail, Colorado and went snow boarding. This snow is nothing compared to Vail's, but heck, we are in SA!!This is my little Red Zorba with snow covered wipers and a car at work.Check out Justin's post for a crazy snow pic!
Corporate Adjustment - The Cubicle
I am working in an open-plan office and currently sitting in a cubicle with low walls and absolutely zero privacy.I don't mind this at all and in fact, it is quite refreshing to know that I have many minds around me to help me if I need assistance of any sort.The leap from entrepreneur to corporate employee is a massive one. One that I don't think I was quite prepared for. Not in the bad way that makes you want to jump out of the window, but in the good way that makes you realise that sometimes autonomous work is NOT the most productive work one can do.I am sure now that it is admirable to want to own the world at the tender age of 23 or so, but it is often not realistic. Sometimes one needs the experience that the corporate world offers to reach a personal potential.I think that I have loads to learn and loads more insight in to the corporate cubicle world through the eyes of an entrepreneur.
One Of Those Mornings...
...when you wake up and you've slept through your alarm by just enough time to warrant not eating breakfast. When you get in your car and realise your almost out of petrol. When you get to the first petrol station and it is full (now you are running late). When you get to the next petrol station and it is on a go slow. When you need to clean your windscreens, check the water and oil, fill up and there is only one gent who seems to not hear your requests for service. When the full tank seems to take an age to take...in...that...last...drop.When you leave the petrol station and the robot stops working. When you try to get on the highway there is a big, fat, ugly BMW X-whatever pushing in to your lane after sitting for 20 minutes and waiting your turn. When you get on the highway it rolls smoothly, up until your turn off. When you take the turn off you find roadworks.When you make the decision to go lane-hopping instead of trusting your choice of lane. When every lane you hop in to seems to slow down or miraculously contain a massive truck almost reversing down Corlette Drive.When you get in to your parkade at work, there are no parking because you are late.When you eventually get to work in such a tizz because you think that everyone will be waiting for you tapping their watches in disdain and there is almost no one there yet.I love flexihours. I love mornings and I love the media industry.